1975 Bodegas Corral Rioja Gran Reserva 750 ml

This delicious, perfectly aged, Bodega-direct Rioja Gran Reserva from 1975 is simply as rare as it gets. Unless you have an uncle who has been collecting Spanish wine since the 1980s, there’s no other way to access a rare time capsule like this that is still drinking beautifully.

Founded in 1898 and still held by the family today, Bodegas Corral is a bastion of tradition in the Rioja town of Navarrete. It’s located on the original pilgrims’ trail called the “Ruta Jacobea” (Way of St. James), the northern route to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. The 1975 was the first Gran Reserva made at the Bodegas Corral facility built in 1974, and thanks to its quality, it is a revered wine at the estate.

According to Decanter, only about 9% of the entire production in 1975 went into the Gran Reserva wines, which only adds to their rarity. According to the Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja, 1975 was one of three “Very Good” harvests in Rioja in the 1970s, in addition to 1970 and 1978. 

When you’re ready to drink it, our wine team recommends standing this bottle upright in a dark, cool place overnight before opening. Due to the age of the wine, use a Durand opener or combination of ah-so and corkscrew to ensure clean removal of the cork.

By the way, the importer of this wine was born in 1975, and he told us: “I opened a bottle of the 1975 on my birthday a few months ago and it was the wine of the night.” That’s no mean feat, considering that Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux was its competition on the table that evening.